Reviews

Ghost Bird by Lisa Fuller

cec_loves_to_read_books's review

4.0

I’d heard good things about this book and the beautiful little CBCA shortlist sticker on the cover cemented it as a must read. I really enjoyed this one; it was eerie and strange and honest and funny and complex and a real page turner.

Spooky and spellbinding. Wonderful story of family bonds and learning from history.

ezzyjane97's review

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

somekindofmiriam's review

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kevinmccarrick's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

rivqa's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

A fast-paced, creepy YA thriller written in vivid, elegant prose. The sense of community is particularly well drawn: the large and small tensions, the knotty relationships, and the fierce love. The late 90s nostalgia is an added bonus. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Violence

kelskiiz's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i love everything about this. the characters all feel so real, and i love that we’re just immediately immersed in tace’s everyday life without excessive explanation/info dumping about the culture, community, etc. i love the amount of extended family shown, and the cousin love!! as a polynesian from nz, my own family tree is enormous, and my cousins are some of my best friends. the otherworldly element is done so well too, especially considering the author switched things up to avoid outsiders figuring it out. eerie and right into frightening, i enjoyed that aspect a lot. also the ending! very good, 10/10

tokagelizard's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

4.5

Read for my YA World Challenge - Australia: https://ya-world-challenge.tumblr.com/

Twins Stacey and Lainey are mirrors of each other, and just as opposite in personality. When Lainey never comes home one night, and when she starts to dream from her twin's perspective, it's up to more reserved and rule-abiding Stacey to find her (despite her strict and overprotective mother).

This was a good spooky story with a strong theme of family. The dynamic of Stacey's mob/family, the interfamily grudge, the outgoing cousin, all made the story interesting. Set in the late 90s, we also see the clear dynamic of racism in a small rural town. The story starts out slow and only has a couple scenes of action, mostly keeping to a subdued atmospheric mood, and the unanswered questions about the shadow creatures give them more of a spooky, uneasy vibe. In addition, the narrator was great and made for a pleasant listen. 

I also appreciated the uncertain ending, the suggestion of lingering PSTD after such an ordeal instead of the usual naively happy ending.

lmaloney's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

gcolston1832's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kumquats87's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75